OFC to elect new president

A new Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) president will be elected at the OFC Congress in June this year.

David Chung stepped down from the post citing personal reasons. However, it was revealed later that he quit after an audit into a multi-million dollar Auckland football development revealed potential wrongdoings.

The OFC executive committee, which includes Cook Islands Football president Lee Harmon, met in Auckland last weekend to discuss several topics, including the resignation of Chung.

As a result of its deliberations, the OFC executive committee made some key decisions regarding the future of the regional football governing body.

It decided that until the OFC Congress in June 2018, no interim OFC president will be appointed.

“The OFC will be led collegially by the entire executive committee until an election for the position of president is held in June. The elected member will serve out the current term of OFC president, which concludes in 2019,” a statement from OFC said.

The report resulting from an audit into the OFC Home of Football construction process, which was conducted by an external audit firm on behalf of FIFA, was analysed by the OFC Executive Committee.

In light of the report findings, the OFC executive committee appointed an external lawyer to lead an internal investigation into potential wrongdoings and to take legal action, if required.

“A forensic audit has been ordered to review, in detail, the processes taken in relation to the OFC Home of Football and the financial processes adopted by the OFC Administration in past years,” the statement said.

The OFC executive committee has also pledged to cooperate with all relevant authorities throughout this process.

In order to address the suspension of funding from FIFA to OFC, the OFC executive committee has agreed to implement all the conditions set out by the FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee as soon as possible.

“OFC will set up a reform committee to review the current OFC constitution, policy and practice activity. This committee will be formalised at the OFC Congress in June.

“The OFC executive committee and general secretariat will remain in regular contact with FIFA over the coming months, with the international governing body to provide support and assistance throughout this period.”

As the various investigations are ongoing, the statement said the OFC executive committee will not be making any further comment on these matters at this time.